^-f^? SU D? (Unp^ > Jba n& CHinf / ' K ^' '..,•. ^/'' > *, n I Solano County, California »*^ i^^ i^^ Solano is the prize county of California. It is situated midway between Sacramento, the capital city, and San Francisco, the metrop- olis of this great State, in the very heart of the most populous section of the entire Pacific Coast. On the cover of this booklet is embossed a miniature reproduction of the magnificent $5000 gold cup awarded to Solano County as first prize at the Mid- Winter Fair of 1894. And from that day to the present the products of Solano County have been winning prizes, medals and cash awards. Solano County, however, is not merely a show county. Its fruits are first in the market, commanding the highest prices, commended by the best judges. Solano County dairies have been scoring the highest points in a majority of tests ; and, what is more to the point, these tests may be made every day in the year, for the products of the dairies have been standardized. Any day is as good as show day. There is no difference. i — i {j Solano County grains are as good as the best in the country. The '^ great grain ranches in the eastern section of the county produce abundantly. The location of Solano County is ideal commercially, climatically and agriculturally. It is less than two hours from San Francisco by water and rail; Sacramento, the State capital, may be reached in like manner in the same time. The whole world is its market, both for its farm products and its manufactured goods, for the merchant fleets of the universe may navigate the waters that wash Solano shores, and railroads stretch web-like to all quarters of this continent. San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay touch Solano County, and the eastern boundary is the Sacramento River, the largest navigable stream in California. Thus Solano County enjoys more advantages of water transportation than any other county, thereby affording maaufactur- ing sites without limit. If evidence were required to back up the claims of Solano County that its waters are navigable at all seasons of the year, all that would be necessary would be to cite the fact that the United States government has located here its largest Pacific Coast navy-yard — jMare Island ; also large ocean-going steamers may navigate the Sacramento River all along the eastern boundary of Solano County, landing and loading produce from and to all ports. This booklet is not written in a boastful spirit. It was conceived with the idea that the peoples of the world now coming to California should know something of the grandeur and the greatness of Solano County. The data from which it was compiled were furnished by the civic organizations of the respective towns and cities in the county, and because of its authenticity it is given official approval and endorsement by the Board of Supervisors of Solano County, Fact is more efficacious than fancy in attracting attention to a worthy object or a desirable community. Therefore Solano County should command the serious consideration of all, especially those who may contemplate making California their permanent residence. Here will be found all of the advantages of the most favored spot on earth — ■ healthy climate, natural wealth, matchless soil, ideal farming condi- tions, unusual manufacturing opportunities. FRUIT INDUSTRY The fruit industry was started in Solano County more than sixty years ago. There was at that time no previously gained knowledge to aid the pioneers in their search for the best methods of making fruit growing profitable. Now one can gain reliable information as to the most profitable crops to plant in the different localities. Fruit can be successfully grown over a very large area of Solano County but there are four distinct fruit sections, namely, Vaca Valley and Pleasants Valley, pre-eminently ahead of all other sections in the State in the production of early plums, peaches and apricots ; Suisun Valley, noted for its Bartlett pears and cherries, and Green Valley, noted for J I 10 u f ¥1 im—Mi BEARING ORCHARDS BORDER MANY OF THE HILHWAVS oF THi: ((UNTV its early cherries and wine grapes. That part of the county known as northern Sohino is particularly adapted to the successful production of nuts, apricots and peaches. . The most important fruits that are produced are : Cherries, apricots, peaches, wine grapes, table grapes, pears, plums and prunes. There are many varieties of these and they ripen over a period of about five months. This fact is important. It gives the investor an opportunity to settle on a small acreage in a community Avhere plums and cherries do especially well. With the aid of members of his family, a person owning a small orchard may market his product without employing outside hands, while there is ample opportunity for light work in the packing-houses. In order to do this varieties must be planted so the fruit ripens in succession, say about two weeks apart. The next most important fruits grown here are figs, olives, oranges, apples, almonds, walnuts, i)omegranates and persimmons. In speaking of growing fruits in this county we refer commonly to certain localities as being adapted particularly to the production of certain kinds. Almost all of our soils will produce anything under the sun. But if one is looking for a place to grow fruits and nuts commercially, he will learn upon investigation that fruits require certain climatic and soil conditions in order to do the best. The College of Agriculture at the University of California and the University Farm, which is located adjacent to our orchards, are supplying expert knowledge in practical form. 12 I •1' i A VIGOROUS AND PROMISIXO YOUNG PRUNE ORCHARD IN THE BEAUTIFUL LAGOON VALLEY The following official census sliow^s the number of trees in Solano County and gives the best obtainable information concerning the ripening season. Number VARIETIES of Trees Almonds 88,600 Apples 1,440 Apricots 178,800 Cherries 03,248 Figs 6,000 Wine Grapes 265,724 Table Grapes 420,143 Olives 1,440 Oranges 1,400 Peaches 254,349 Pears ' 126,202 Plums 182,618 Prunes 161,372 Walnuts 3,800 Persimmons 5,000 The value of the products from orchard and vineyard is estimated to be as follows : 2,000 cars of green fruit, shipped East annually at an average of 81,400 per car $2,800,000 10,000,000 lbs. dried prunes at 43 ^ cents 450,000 3,000,000 lbs. dried apricots at 10 cents 300,000 6,000,000 lbs. dried peaches at 6 cents 360,000 867,000 lbs. almonds at 12 cents 104,040 Local cars to San Francisco, green fruit 50,000 Miscellaneous: Dried pears 5,000 English walnuts 6,000 Dried figs ' 7,000 Apples 2,000 Total $4,084,040 Number Varieties 6 Season 9 8 May 20 to July 1 16 April 25 to June 20 4 June 15 to Sept 16 8 . Aug. 15 to Sept 15 10 July 17 to Sept. 25 2 Nov. 15 on 3 Nov. 1 to Feb. 15 25 June 1 to Sept. 10 8 June 14 to Aug. 30 34 June 1 to Aug. 10 8 Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 4 Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 3 Nov. 15 to Jan. 15 13 14 15 A PLENTIFUI. WATER SUPPLY AIDS MATERIALLY IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALL CROPS 16 FRUIT PACKED IN SOLANO COUNTY IS SHIPPED TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD CANNERIES There are canneries at Vallejo, Benicia, Suisun and Rio Vista, the product being sent to all parts of the world. The Vallejo cannery- does an exclusive foreign business, shipping canned salmon. The Rio Vista cannery handles asparagus. The Benicia cannery puts up some of the finest fruits and fish. The Suisun cannery handles fruit exclusively. During the season these canneries give employment to hundreds of persons. There is opportunity to develop these industries, and the advantages that make attractive manufactories also apply to the canning enterprises. WINERIES There is a considerable acreage in wine grapes. There are two wine cellars at Cordelia, each with a capacity of 500,000 gallons. There is a large acreage devoted to table grapes. DAIRYING Solano County already has an enviable reputation for the high standard of its dairy produce. The largest certified milk dairy farms in California are located near Dixon, the "Dairy City." The product of these dairies is about 6000 quarts of milk a day, which is shipped to Bay points where it commands the highest prices. There is also a creamery at Dixon, another at Suisun, two at Benicia and one at Vallejo. There is a vast area in Solano County available for dairy farms. 17 I COMFORTABLE HOMES BEAR WITNESS TO THE PROSPERITY OF SOLANO'S CITIZENS h I 18 PALMS AND VINING PLANTS LEND A DISTINCT CHARM TO MANY OF THE HOMES 19 S" ^^^StSSSii^^mmfmmmf ^- ■ a 1 ' 'y'l. 23 :3i ^^ HENRT C. BMITH, ARCHITECT SOLANO COUNTY CITIZENS APPRECIATE FCTLLY THE ADVANTAGES OF MODERN SCHOOL BXHLDINGS RIU VISTA UNION HIGH SCHOOL ARMIJO UNION HIGH SCHOOL DDCON UNION HIGH SCHOOL 21 22 MILK IS LOADED UPON WAITING EXPRESS CARS FOR QUICK TRANSPORTATION TO CITY MARKETS Conditions are ideal, in many instances reliance being placed entirely upon natural grasses, while other dairymen feed alfalfa. With the development of this forage under the matchless conditions of this section, the growth of the dairy industry will be astounding. Every section of the county is accessible to a creamery; or if it be deemed advisable to ship the milk, quick and certain transportation facilities are afforded to the largest market on the Pacific Coast, the San Francisco Bay region. "Where alfalfa is raised there is ample water for irrigating, the sub-surface supply being without limit and ex- tending over a wide area. The dairy stock that is in use is of the best breeds. In many cases the dairies are either certified or inspected, the cows being subjected to the most rigid tests. Good dairying lands may be purchased in several desirable sec- tions of the county. GRAIN ^ Solano County is a large producer of grain.- There are thou- sands of acres of the richest delta land in the world, and prairie and rolling hill lands that have grown cereals for forty years. In large areas wheat and barley have been grown year after year. Now crops are being rotated and new life given to the soil. Any grain grower with ability and backing can obtain land in various sections and make good from the beginning. One great advantage is the fact that Port Costa, one of the greatest grain ports of the Pacific Coast, on tide water, joins Solano County, and freight charges are low. Montezuma Hills, in the eastern section of the county, is recog- nized as one of the largest grain sections in California. MILLING AND MANUFACTURING Solano County is situated ideally for mills and manufactories. One J of the largest flour mills in the State is situated at Vallejo, and ^ I there is another at Dixon. Benicia has two tanneries, an iron works •^• S and shipyard among its enterprises. Rio Vista has a shipyard. •^ 23 ! , rf -S-C^ j'J.-^ • lA PERMANENCY MARKS THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, AS INDICATED BY THESE SUBSTANTIAL BRIDGES 8 I 24 UNDER THE MATCHLESS CONDITIONS OBTAINING HERE ALFALFA REACHES ITS HIGHEST DEVELOPMENT Climatic conditions make Solano perfect for manufactories. One incentive for establishing new industries and the extension of exist- ing ones should be the fact that none of the communities having deep water shipping facilities stand in the way of progress. Available sites may be purchased at reasonable prices. The city of Vallejo itself has taken over virtually two miles of water-front under bond issue, and is developing it to its highest efficiency. Water and rail never combined to better advantage than here. . STEAM, ELECTRIC AND WATER TRANSPORTATION The Southern Pacific railroad traverses the county with its main transcontinental line, and many transcontinental and local trains are passing through the county daily. The Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railroad operates through the eastern portion of the county, connecting San Francisco with Sacramento. The Northern Electric operates at present between Vacaville and Suisun-Fairfield, besides running fruit trains out of Suisun Valley. Other electric roads are under construction or will be started soon. The Sacramento Valley railroad is operating between Dixon Junction (on the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern) to Dixon. The Napa Valley & Calistoga connects Vallejo and the Napa Valley country. The Monticello Steamship Company makes six daily trips be- tween Vallejo and San Francisco carrying passengers and freight. 25 26 f'' ""'""'''iSiii^i HEADED DO\\'^"STREAM FOR THE OITTSIDE MARKET WITII THE PRODUCTS OF THE FIELD 27 I t I'Mtilc "111! I m% 1/ e* "''' I Hi 1 1, 1/ ■ rl ,r|/!fw f(Mi^? CI E > i H o ?8 ^ ¥ I' ^ PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY 3 STATION AT CORDELIA, LARGEST IN THE WORLD Three lines of steamers make daily trips between Sacramento and Sau Francisco. Collectively this network of rail and water transportation would be hard to excel and should appeal to those considering the estab- lishment of a future home. QUARRIES AND MINERAL SPRINGS Immense quantities of road building material are located in different parts of Solano County. This material is being used to improve the highways of the county. The main trunk of the State Highway traverses the county and this section will be one of the first completed. Also material for the manufacture of cement is found in great quantities. Onyx quarries and mineral springs are found in the county. VALLEJO, THE NAVY- YARD CITY Vallejo is the largest and the principal city of Solano County. It is located in the extreme southwestern section of the county and is distant from San Francisco only twenty-seven miles by either rail or water, a journey from the Pacific Coast metropolis of less than two hours. Here is located the United States largest Pacific Coast navy-yard, fei officially designated as Mare Island. Vallejo is a thoroughly modern Li and progressive city, one of its main attractions, besides its beautiful \i 30 1 AN ARMY OF EMPLOYEES RETI'RNTXG FROM THEIR WORK AT THE MARE ISLAND NAVY-YARD situation on the hills overlooking the water dotted with mammoth engines of peace, being its perfectly paved streets. In the last two years the city spent $1,000,000 in street improvements, with the result that more square feet of first-class paving have been laid in Vallejo than in any city of its population in the United States, and the result has been accomplished in a shorter space of time than anywhere in the world. The growth of Vallejo has been phenomenal. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war the population was not more than 6000. Today the population is more than 15,000. The hills of the city are dotted with beautiful homes, many of them owned by mechanics employed at the navy-yard. The United States government has built and maintained its largest navy-yard here, and is increasing its capacity every year. Millions of dollars invested indicate the permanency of this gigantic estab- lishment. Vallejo 's strategic location is further emphasized by the fact that within a distance of less than five miles fully a score of the principal institutions of upper San Francisco Bay maintain their Pacific Coast deep-Avater terminals. Among these are the Union Oil Company and the Associated Oil Company, both of which have the terminal of their pipe lines from the oil belt of California here, thereby connecting with deep-water transportation. Others are the Selby Smelting & Lead Company, the National Lead Company, the Selby Cartridge AVorks, the California-Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company, the Balfour-Guthrie Company, F. A. Somers & Company, J 31 )^.-^ m^^ i 1 . ; Ir ,1 1 f': - m - 5 1 z V- HI I p I 32 4 Nevada Warehouse & Dock Company, Granger Warehouse & Dock 8 Company, G. W. McNear Warehouse & Dock Company, Sperry 51 Flour Company, Trescott Packing Company and the Pacific Fisheries Company. To make available this multiplicity of industries the United States government spent $1,250,000 in dredging and deepening the San Pablo shoals to thirty feet at mean low tide, and $420,000 in dredging the Mare Island channel. After the completion of the dredging operations this channel — which separates the navy-yard from Vallejo — will be 600 feet in width at its narrowest point. It is now 1,500 feet wide at its greatest span and is navigable by any vessel that can enter the Golden Gate at low tide. The equipment at Mare Island navy-yard permits of the building of vessels of the largest type, and conditions are such that the work can be done cheaper than at any navy-yard in the country. An example of the skill of the employes at this yard is evidenced in the naval collier Jupiter, the dimensions of which are larger than those of the U. S. battleship Oregon. This is the first electrically driven and operated vessel built, and a recent successful trial trip establishes the speed of the vessel at 15.1 knots, although the requirements were only 14 knots. The City Government of Vallejo, through a bond issue in the sum of $150,000, has begun the work of constructing a bulkhead between North and South Vallejo. Incidental to this construction is the reclamation of 160 acres of tide lands, all of which will be available for sites for manufacturing and industrial development. Vallejo unhesitatingly invites the closest investigation of her numerous advantages, especially with reference to the opportunities that here await the manufacturer. Few cities can boast such a water- frontage as owned by Vallejo, and certainly none has a longer line of deep-water dockage sites. The government maintains a dredge to keep the channel to San Francisco Bay to a guaranteed depth of thirty feet so that vessels of the navy may reach the navy-yard at any time. This is positive assurance of the permanency of the deep- water facilities for the ships of the world. In addition to this, Vallejo has two railroads — the Southern Pacific and the San Francisco, Napa & Calistoga. The Southern Pacific operates trains to all main-line connections, and the San Francisco, Napa & Calistoga is an electric railway operating between Vallejo and some of the State's richest orchard country. The Monticello Steamship Company operates a line of superb fast steamers between San Francisco and Vallejo. The Northern Electric Railway, now building between Vallejo and Sacramento, will maintain its deep-water terminal and shops at Vallejo, and this railroad is early destined to become the terminus of another transcontinental line. Vallejo has a commission form of government, which means that its public affairs are conducted on the highest plane. The excellent schools are the especial pride of the city. There are five grammar schools and a new high school, erected at a cost of $65,000. This ^^ institution is fully accredited to the University of California. The A teachers in all grades are thoroughly capable. 33 34 ^ ^ The water system of Vallejo is municipally owned, and the supply is of the purest, the source being in the mountains north of Green Valley Falls, a distance of twenty miles from Vallejo by air line. This supply is stored in two enormous reservoirs with a combined capacity of more than 1,000,000,000 gallons. After leaving the lakes the water flows through a natural channel for a distance of two miles to the intake pipe, dropping in that distance more than seven hundred feet. In this way the water is thoroughly aerated before entering the city's pipes. Little Lake Chabot, so called to distinguish it from the larger lake of the same name, located in Alameda County, is used for storage purposes to the extent of 400,000,000 gallons of water. Fraternal orders have a large following in Vallejo, virtually every organization having a good-sized local membership. ]\Iany lodges own their own buildings, the value of this property being estimated at $300,000. All of the representative religious denominations have edifices and resident ministers. Just outside the city limits of Vallejo is White Sulphur Springs, noted for its excellent mineral waters and its historical interest. Vallejo essentially is a prosperous city, for it has probably the largest pay-roll of any community its size in the country. The navy- yard alone pays out approximately $2,500,000 annually to perma- nent residents of Vallejo. In addition to this great industry, the largest flour mill on this Coast is located here. Other industries are a tannery, steam laundries, brick kilns, cannery, lumber mill, and very soon important railroad shops will be built. There are four daily newspapers and one weekly in Vallejo, The outlying country is devoted to farming and dairying, and much of the land is held at $100 an acre. Truck gardeners find a ready market for their produce in the city. Near Vallejo is one of the richest quicksilver mines in the country. This property has yielded hundreds of thousands of dollars, and gives employment to many men. BENICIA Several important manufactories are located at Benicia, situated in the southwestern section of the county. This is a city of about 3000 population, ideally situated on Carquinez Straits, where the waters of the great rivers of the interior — the Sacramento and the San Joaquin — after flowing into Suisun Bay to the east meet the tides of the Pacific Ocean that sweep in through the Golden Gate. The city's situation for a manufacturing center is superb. The water-front is extensive and more than two miles of it lies between the main transcontinental line of the Southern Pacific and deep water, where the largest vessels could dock. Several factories are directly on the Straits, the vessels carrying materials and the finished product tying up to private docks. The city enjoys terminal transcontinental railroad rates and vessels engaged in coastwise trade deliver their cargoes in Benicia from points up and down the coast at the same rate as in San Francisco. From this city main line trains of the ^ ^i Southern Pacific are ferried across the Straits to the opposite shore f] 35 ! ONE OF THE liANklM", INSTITUTIONS OF VALLEJO, THE CITY OF CASH on the train transports Solano and Contra Costa, the two largest ferry- boats in the world. The valley lines of the Southern Pacific run along the opposite shore, connection being made by train transport at Port Costa, or by the Martinez-Benicia ferry at Martinez. This is the connecting link between the northern system of State highways center- ing in Benicia and the all-shore State highway to Oakland, and it is at present the only automobile ferry across a hundred miles of waterway. Three lines of river steamers, as well as the lines of railroad mentioned, connect Benicia with San Francisco and with interior cities and towns, including Stockton and Sacramento. The only government arsenal on the Pacific Coast is at Benicia. From this point are shipped all the stores used up and down the coast and in the Philippines, Hawaii and Alaska. Many of these are manufactured here, about 150 men and women being the average number maintained at the arsenal. The Baker & Hamilton iron works is another important industry. Agricultural implements made here are shipped to many parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, South America, China and Japan, being loaded at the company's own wharf. At the busiest season of the year the iron works employs 125 men and its pay-roll is about $100,000 a year. The Western Creameries Company, the largest west of Denver, Colorado, is operated here. Cream is brought from the big dairy ranches of California, the company maintaining about twenty stations, ^ some at points distant over two hundred miles. The fortnightly dis §^ 36 THE FIRST STATE CAJITOL OF CALIFORNIA, NOW BENICIA'S CITY HALL bursernents for cream aggregate $45,000, or more than a million dollars a year. The capacity of the plant is more than 20,000 pounds a day, and of this vast output over three million pounds of butter are marketed yearly under one famous brand. The permanent employes number from thirty to fifty. Benicia was selected by this company for the location of this immense plant because of its situation, being the gateway by rail and water to the great agricultural sections of central and northern California, and the markets of the world. Another creamery manufactures a high-grade butter for local con- sumption and is the medium through which the cream from nearby dairies, situated principally along the marsh lands between Benicia and Cordelia, ultimately reach the consumer, A cannery located here is near enough to some of the greatest orchards of California, notably those of the Suisun and Vaca valleys, to be able to secure all the fruit it requires for its canning capacity. Its output is marketed under several well-known brands and is of the highest quality. The fish-packing department is a large one, the fish, principally salmon, being taken from the Straits, and Suisun and San Pablo bays. This industry gives employment to scores of fisher- men, while in the canning department the number of the employes depends upon the season of the year. A local shipyard has built over a hundred vessels, and recently ^ has added to its equipment. With the opening of the Panama Canal h }ij and the impetus that will be given to shipping on the Pacific it is g fi expected that there will be a greater development of this industry, 1 yj 37 38 OFFICES AND HARNESS AND SKIRTING LEATHER FINISHING DEPARTMENT, KULLMAN, SALZ & COMPANY, BENICIA TANNERY Benicia also has a factory which makes and distributes to fruit- growers and stockmen a variety of sprays and stock dips. The largest tannery on the Pacific Coast, that of Kullman, Salz & Company, is in Benicia and operates steadily to full capacity, handling about 1,000 sides daily. The tannery employs about 250 men daily, and the pay-roll aggregates upward of $200,000 a year. There is another tannery here, also, and the output is excellent. Benicia is an important railroad point, thirty passenger trains of the Southern Pacific stopping here daily. The ferry and switching facilities maintained by this company afford employment to more than a hundred men, the annual pay-roll being $120,000. The city is one of the historic places of the State. The capital of California was once located here and the fine old Capitol building, where many legislative debates among the notables of the early days were carried on, is in a good state of preservation, and today is used as a city hall and library. The city has four churches. Besides the public school there is the Dominican monastery and a convent. Benicia is beautifully situated, with attractive homes, fine climate, striking scenery, good schools, superior transportation facil- ities, easy access to the cities and the big valleys of California, sur- rounded by hill and valley farms that have never been intensively cultivated, and with work enough at hand to give employment to hundreds of men and women. 39 ! 40 SUISUN AND FAIRFIELD Suisun and Fairfield are such close neighbors that the Southern Pacific Railroad Company maintains one station for both. All that divides them is an imaginary line defining the legal limits of the towns. Fairfield is the county seat, and here the people of the county have erected one of the handsomest courthouses in all California. A magnificent high school and numerous other private improvements either are under way or projected. Suisun is also a central point for handling fruits. Two large fruit-packing houses are located here. Shipments are received from various points in central and northern California, and in the packing- houses at this place are put up in cases and boxes suitable for the eastern and foreign markets. Famous brands from Suisun packing establishments find their way to all quarters of the globe. The fruit industry is one of the principal resources of this rich section. Suisun and Green valleys supply some of the finest fruits grown in the State, and many orchardists have grown rich in the development of varieties for which they are noted. It would be difficult to find homes of more striking beauty than those in the vicinity of Suisun and Fairfield, and within the corporate limits of the towms also will be seen every evidence of prosperity and progress. Statistics for 1912-1913 give an idea of the importance of the fruit industry, the shipments of fruits from Suisun being as follows : The green fruit shipped from Suisun, season 1913, totaled 400 cars. The green fruit shipped to canneries, season 1913, totaled 75 cars, and the dried fruit shipped from Suisun, season 1913, made 230 cars. The total number of cars shipped from Suisun during the season of 1913 was about 700. There is a large acreage in the vicinity of Suisun devoted to dairying and much more land that may be used for a like purpose to the immediate and certain profit of a large number of settlers. There is an excellent creamery here, which, at the California State Fair of 1913, received a gold medal and a cash prize for the excellence of its creamery butter. The conditions in the vicinity of Suisun for • dairying are ideal. The summers are not hot, a fact which many dairy farmers have learned to their own profit. Many of them raise hogs as a side line. To the south of Suisun are the island districts and low lands that have been used for dairy farms for forty years. There is a large acreage in this vicinity wdiich is being reclaimed and will afford additional opportunity for newcomers. In addition to the fruit packing-houses at Suisun and Fairfield, which employ numbers of persons during the season, there is a fruit cannery operated to capacity during the fruit season. Suisun enjoys water transportation facilities in addition to the service of the main line Southern Pacific and the Northern Electric. Suisun is a junction point for the Southern Pacific, which operates a branch line to Cordelia, Napa Junction and other points. There are some excellent opportunities for settlers in this vicinity and never need there be fear of crop failures. The rainfall is \l I a J 42 f aim'mm\ i :' ~^-ailMi tas p jfir .^g» Sf Si I \ 1 -. 1 1\ riii- iiri;i"\ OK 1^1 ( I \i\ii,i> SI I 'I'll INS \\ III Ki \\u\nM;rri ni \ i i ( i:'m •■ ■ ' i- \v-,i i,:i',i) ample for general purposes, killing frosts rarely visit the valleys i where the fruit is grown, and climatic and soil conditions cannot ' be excelled in all northern California. VACAVILLE Vaeaville ships the earliest fruits from California. In more than sixty years of fruit growing there has not been more than two or three exceptions to this statement. Vaeaville is beautifully located at the mouth of the valley, surrounded by mountains and foothills, separated from the main Sacramento Valley by these low-lying hills. Vaeaville is on a branch line of the Southern Pacific railroad four miles west of Elmira, the Southern Pacific railroad's main line junction, thirty miles southwest of Sacramento and sixty miles north- east of San Francisco. The valley is protected from extreme cold in winter and from heavy winds in summer by its mountains and hills. The soils of the valley, silt washed from the surrounding hills by the erosion of winter rains during many centuries, are deep, friable and especially adaptable to fruits. Although diversified farming is possible, 15,000 acres of orchards and vineyards from which fruit is shipped from the latter part of April until the middle of November, offer sufficient proof that Vaeaville is most ideally located and has the proper soil and climatic conditions for successful fruit growing. Earliest orchards are on the rolling lands and foothills. The principal fruits grown in the Vaca Valley are cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, prunes, figs, grapes and apples. Walnuts, almonds and oranges also produce well, but are at present not extensively grown. Between Vaeaville and Elmira, a distance of four miles, there is a large acreage of level land ideally located for alfalfa growing and dairying. Unimproved land in the Vaca Valley sells for from $100 to $200 per acre, depending upon location and quality of soil. However, the acreage of desirable unimproved orchard land in the immediate vicinity of Vaeaville is limited. Bearing orchards are worth from $275 to $500 per acre, depending upon location, age and variety of fruit. Good orchards, well cared for, may be depended upon in the average season to pay ten per cent, or more interest upon these valuations. The winter rainfall, which averages thirty inches, is generally sufficient to insure full crops. While there are occasional seasons of light rainfall, there is no instance known during the last forty years where there has been insufficient rainfall to mature satisfactory and profitable crops. There are many opportunities for the settler in the vicinity of Vaeaville, and while many of the orchards bring large returns on comparatively high valuations, there is a small acreage within the reach of persons of small capital. Time is required to bring trees to a bearing stage and one must be prepared either to work for others or be able to finance himself while waiting for a crop. There are I 45 j^ instances in Vaca Valley of persons starting with only a few hun- dred dollars, purchasing land under contract and planting trees. While the trees were growing these people have worked for neighbors, and after a few years have been able to rent the young orchard or operate it themselves, earning a good living and each year paying off a considerable part of the first cost and improvements. A pros- pective purchaser of any sort of land should make inquiry as to the character of the soil before buying, for conditions at relatively nearby localities may be entirely different. Vacaville has a population of 1,500. One of the most valuable assets of the community is exceptionally good schools, embracing both grammar and high schools. The California State University Agricul- tural Farm is but eighteen miles distant. Vacaville has good sewers, electric light and water system, several mercantile establishments, two banks and six churches. The State Highway leading from San Francisco to Sacramento passes through the main street of the town. The Vallejo & Northern Electric Railway connects Vacaville with Suisun and will ultimately be extended to Sacramento. Herewith is appended a list of shipping fruits grown in the Vaca- ville section, together with the average dates of ripening : Cherries, leading varieties: Purple Guine April 20 Bing May 14 Chapman April 25 Royal Ann May 10 Tartarian April 30 Advance April 27 Burbank cherry May 4 Plums, leading varieties: Clyman May 30 Sugars July 2 Tragedy June 6 Grand Duke July 12 Santa Rosa June 6 Kelsey July 9 Burbank June 8 Giants July 15 Climax June 8 Cross July 20 Wickson June 20 Formosa June 4 Dimonds July 2 Peaches, leading varieties: Alexander June 2 Crawford July 10 Triumph June 10 Elberta July 25 St. John June 13 Grapes, leading varieties: Tokay Aug. 8 — 18% sugar. Fontainebleau July 19 — 18% sugar. Rose Peru Aug. 1 — 18% sugar. Bartletta June 20 — Half box. Wilder June 1 1 — Half box. Royal Apricots May 26 Blue Figs June 8 DIXON, THE DAIRY CITY Dixon is known as the Dairy City, because of the excellence of its dairy produce. The surrounding country formerly was devoted to grain-growing purposes, but alfalfa fields are the order of this pro- gressive age, the exact acreage in alfalfa being 9,500 acres up to the latter part of 1913, with an estimated increase for 1914 of about 1500 acres. The soil of the Dixon ridge country is of the richest, and there is a plentiful supply of sub-surface water for irrigating purposes. In the district there are 200 pumping plants, of which 150 are within reasonable distance of electric lines or about eighty per cent, of the total is operated by electricity. The total horsepower used approximates 2,000 which shows an increase in electric irrigation con- ^ sumers during the year 1914 of fifty per cent. In this district two % acres will support three cows, and a good cow will earn from $8 to $12 a month, and may be milked ten months in the year. I ',» 47 \1 48 =0 " s^t®^ CLEANLINESS AND SANITATION ARE THE WATCHWORDS OF THE GREAT SOLONO DAIRIES The dairies of Dixon are either inspected or certified. The Jerseys and Holsteins are subjected to the severe tuberculin test by veteri- naries employed by the State Dairy Commission. Two of the largest certified dairies in California have 500 cows, producing about 6,000 quarts of milk a day, which are shipped to the Bay region. A creamery has an output of 125,000 pounds of butter a year. The Dixon Milling Company operates three distinct businesses. The first, flour milling, includes a modern equipment throughout. Wheat is obtained from Dixon, Tremont, Batavia and Allendale ware- houses, all local points, combining a capacity of some 25,000 tons. Distinct from the flour milling is a feed grinding business. In an entirely separate plant is an alfalfa meal mill, capacity three and a half tons per hour, perfectly equipped to operate twenty- four hours each day, if necessary. The 1913 run totaled some 2650 tons, but under normal conditions this could be increased, as the acreage of alfalfa hay in this district is increasing in a rapid ratio, and nearly 10,000 acres now in will bring the tonnage of available hay for grinding purposes to a figure like 50,000 to 80,000 tons. The company plans to double the capacity of the present mill, making a possibility of 120 tons per day maximum. With a grinding season as long as California's remarkably long summer and fall, the plant could be operated some 125 days during the months of May, June, July, August and September and could produce some 12,500 tons of alfalfa meal. PLENTY OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION, NATURE'S INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE FARMER The future of alfalfa milling in California is destined to be bright, as the opening of the Panama Canal will make California meal within an easy and cheap freightage of the Eastern seacoast, and there it is constantly coming into greater demand. Alfalfa meal supplies the protein in stock feeds which cannot be obtained locally in the East in paying quantity on account of the shorter growing climate there. The alfalfa production will also be largely increased over the present crop in this territory when the Yolo Water & Power Company has succeeded in bringing its overland irrigation ditch into Solano County, with a supply of water for 50,000 acres. This project is advancing rapidly and will be able to make deliveries within eighteen months at most. The Dixon ridge land, so called because it is above average eleva- tion and has good drainage and sub-drainage, yields large crops of almonds and is peculiarly adapted to a fine quality of alfalfa, clean, fine texture and of good color. It is the result also of good, strong soil and intelligent husbandry. Dixon alfalfa groAvers are exceptionally adept and painstaking in seeding, cultivating, irrigating and curing. The city of Dixon has fine homes and excellent business buildings, which bespeak the general prosperity of the community. The local population is 1500, while adjoining farms have an additional 3000. The fact that the two local banks have deposits aggregating $1,100,- 000 is indicative that alfalfa and dairying are dividend-payers. 49 i *3-J.i[*' ^#1 IN TIIK L.WU 111'' Mll.K AND HOXEY. AX APIARV (IX Tin; | lici; (iF A DAIRY FARM The city has a good water system and a sewer system recently was installed at a cost of $30,000, guaranteeing good sanitary conditions. A twenty-three-acre park is one of the prized possessions of the city. The schools of the town are good. The handsome Mission grammai school occupies an entire block, and the high school has a staff of five teachers. A bond election calling for an additional $60,000 for school purposes has just carried. There is a $10,000 Carnegie library l)uilding. There are five churches — the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Roman Catholic. A large tonnage of grain is shipped from Dixon annually, the average for a period of six years being approximately 6500 tons, A large number of cattle, hogs and sheep go out in carload lots. CORDELIA Cordelia has a population of 300 and is situated at the southern end of Green Valley on the branch line of the Southern Pacific. Green Valley is noted for the excellence of its fruit product, its cherries, pears, prunes, peaches and grapes. There are two wine cellars here, each having a capacity of 500,000 gallons. Here is a large I rock-crushing plant. The Pacific Gas & Electric Company has just built one of its S 50 SPIXELESS CACTUS, THE NEW FORAGE PLANT, ONE YEAR AFTER PLANTING largest distributing plants near Cordelia, spending $495,000 in erecting the steel and concrete building, 280 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 40 feet high. The high-tension wires from the company's great power plant at Lake Spaulding, in Placer County, and the Drum power- house, carry 100,000 horse-power to this station, whence it is dis- tributed to different lines and cities. At the head of Green Valley is Green Valley Falls, the source of the water supply for Vallejo, Mare Island and Cordelia. There are two lakes having a storage capacity of more than 1,000,000,000 gallons of water. In 1912 forty-three cars of cherries were shipped from Cordelia to the Eastern market, where they brought fancy prices. The 1913 shipment was thirty-nine cars. A large quantity was also shipped to local markets, the season lasting from April 20 to June 1. Considerable milk is shipped from Cordelia, the adjacent country being rich in natural grasses for grazing dairy cattle. RIO VISTA Rio Vista is the metropolis of the Netherlands of America, situ- ated in the Montezuma hills on the western shores of the Sacramento River. From this picturesque city one looks upon the famed delta land through which runs a network of sloughs. The water-front is dotted with vessels of every description. Vessels that navigate the 51 i 52 ^ high seas come here to discharge their cargoes, and the river boats carry produce to and fro. Rio Vista is mid-way between Sacramento and San Francisco, being distant fifty miles from both. It is the clearing-house for some of the richest agricultural territory in the .West. The town has a population of 1000, and this is increasing rapidly, for there is hardly a community possessing the many natural advan- tages of this pretty little place. This is evidenced by the character and the permanency of the improvements made recently, the aggre- gate cost of which was $200,000, all expended during 1913. A new hotel, valued at $50,000, has just been completed and opened to the public. There is another first-class hotel here. Notwithstanding the unusual building activities there is not a single vacant store or residence in the community. The town has first-class mercantile establishments and a bank. One of the principal industries of Rio Vista is a cannery having a capacity of 1400 cases per day. In the season of 1913 it packed 60,000 cases of asparagus grown on adjacent islands. Local labor is employed, so far as possible. A large lumber yard and planing mill receive cargoes of lumber direct from ocean-going vessels. A short time ago a boat-building establishment was located at Rio Vista, and a brick and tile pottery at Toland's Landing gives promise of larger development in the immediate future. Though fishing and agriculture have been important factors in the develop- ment of Rio Vista, the community is now looking forward to an era of manufacture, for her magnificent water-front and other natural advantages presage great progress at a no distant day. The land holdings in the Montezuma hills are in large tracts, the acreage for the most part being devoted to grain, of which 100,000 tons are shipped from this place annually. There has never been a total crop failure in the Montezuma hills since this land was first cultivated. Only in years of droughts — 1877 and 1898 — have crops been other than bountiful. As an example, in one year. Supervisor J. B. Hoyt took 1200 tons of wheat and 100 tons of hay from 1000 acres of this unirrigated hill land, and others have done even better. Olives, walnuts and prunes are well adapted to the hills, and grapes may be grown commercially on any of this land. A portion of the Montezuma hills is utilized solely for pasturage, which accounts in a large measure for the excellence of the stock of horses in this vicinity. It is asserted that they are not surpassed by any in the United States. Being of draughting stock — Shire, Bel- gian and Percheron — many of the animals weigh over the ton mark. Many of the thoroughbred stallions weigh as high as 2250 P9unds, and there are some beautiful mares, which have carried off first prizes at the California State Fair. On these pasture lands there are cattle and sheep valued at fully $1,000,000. Of the islands the largest and most important wholly within Solano County is Ryer. It is one of the richest pieces of land in California and lies within Rio Vista township. It consists of 12,000 fl 63 t ^ ».s»^ i^ 'WSft^,,! ■i^t^'^ 'Jk.^-^!. 46 -^\,^.^^. »5 A 2000 ACRE BEAN FIELD AND THRESHER WITH A CAPACITY OF 4OO SACKS EACH HOUR ON K iH RYERS ISLAND M 54 ^is^"- WORKERS FOR TROSPKRITY IX THE MOXTEZUMA HILLS GRAIN COTXTRY acres of delta land and is protected from the Sacramento River by strong levees. This land is producing from forty to sixty sacks of barley to the acre, from thirty to forty-five sacks of beans to the acre, and potatoes average 230 sacks to the acre on a tract of 200 acres. Asparagus, pears, peaches and plums all do well there. The growth of hemp and flax has been carried on for years, the hemp growing to a height of sixteen feet and yielding 1500 pounds of fiber to the acre. This product is sent to Oakland to be made into I)aling rope which is thirty to forty-five per cent stronger than ordinary rope. The island has cross levees and good roads. The land is always kept moist from the river, and a failure of crops is unknown. Sheep to the number of 16,000 are fattened on the island each year, being turned into the stubble and later into the grain fields ; this means is taken to prevent too rank growth of grain. The products of Ryer Island are shipped directly over the levees onto the boats, saving the expense of hauling. Wood Island, opposite the town of Rio Vista, has a shipyard where river steamers are built and repaired, many men being em- ployed there constantly. Rio Vista has been awaiting a railroad for years, and one is headed that way now. Rio Vista auto stages now make connection with the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railroad. The ultimate aim is a railroad from Red Bluff to Rio Vista, where passengers and freight 56 "the fat of the land," PASrUEED ON StTCCCTLENT ALFALFA, FINISHED ON GRAIN will be transferred to palatial steamers for all points on the inland waters of California. The river service at present is excellent. The Southern Pacific, the California Transportation Company and the Lauritzen Transpor- tation Company operate magnificent vessels between Rio Vista, Sacra- mento, San Francisco and inter-island cities and towns. Rio Vista is the main stop for all vessels operating on the Sacramento River. Rio Vista has an excellent grammar school and a high school with a fine staff of teachers. A new schoolhouse with adequate con- veniences for polytechnic training in addition to the regular high school course, ample grounds for athletic sports and, in general, greater efficiency are the immediate aims. In addition to the public school system there is an academy for young ladies and a school for boys, both conducted by Roman Catholic Sisters. These establishments have State-wide reputations. The climate of this section is most salubrious and healthful. The temperature is universally moderate and mild. Strong winds prevail during the summer months, which serve to keep the atmosphere cool and refreshing. Flowers grow profusely and all kinds of garden fruits and vegetables abound. Prosperity, in a word, is the proper description of this metropolis of the Netherlands. ELMIRA Twelve miles northeast of the county-seat, on the Southern Pacific railroad, a junction point to Vacaville is Elmira. I 57 I 58 ^ Jj Elmira is located in the center of a great grain country, and large shipments of hogs, cattle, sheep, wool and poultry are also shipped from here annually. There is a large acreage east of Elmira adapted to rice, and with proper development this section will produce large crops. CEMENT At Cement, distant a few miles north of Fairfield, the Pacific Portland Cement Company, Consolidated, operates one of the largest establishments in the West. Starting in 1902 with a production of 600 barrels a day, the company has added to its equipment until it has produced in one working month 186,000 barrels of cement, or a little more than 6000 barrels a day. The company has a capitali- zation of $6,000,000, and is one of the few cement companies on the Pacific Coast that has been able to pay regular dividends. The com- pany employs 500 men regularly, and to afford them accommodations owns the village in which they live. There is a modern hotel with all conveniences to be obtained in a city. The company owns a store and has a hospital on the grounds, with a physician and steward in attendance at all times. There is a ranch of several hundred acres, upon which cattle are kept grazing. Many of the animals are slaughtered in the company's own slaughter-house. A model dairy barn, made of concrete, houses about sixty head of cows. A modern chicken ranch furnishes eggs and poultry for the hotel and village. There are over fifty cottages for the married employes. There is a good school with two teachers, one provided by the county and the other by the company. There is a hall in which entertainments are given from time to time. Pacific Portland Cement Company, Consolidated, also operates an auxiliary quarry at Auburn, Placer County, where about 200 men are employed regularly. COLLINSVILLE Collinsville, on the Sacramento River, fourteen miles south of Rio Vista, serves as a shipping point for a farming country immediately contiguous. BIRD'S LANDING Bird's Landing, a short distance inland from Collinsville, is sur- rounded by rich farms and serves as the trading place of many farmers. MAINE PRAIRIE Maine Prairie is in the northeastern section of the county. Here there is a considerable acreage in alfalfa and many sheep and some cattle are sent from this place. MOLENA Molena is ideally located about midway between San Francisco .c and Sacramento on the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railroad. To the i*, \ east is one of the richest grain districts in California and to the west ^ IS are the fertile delta lands. Water transportation is also available. of I 59 % OPPORTUNITIES IN SOLANO There are innumerable opportunities in Solano County for farmers and orchardists. Good lands are to be had at reasonable prices. Of course, highly improved orchards and farms command fancy figures. The field for dairymen is exceptionally good. Alfalfa growers will find almost perfect conditions for this forage crop, irrigation and soil combining to make the yield phenomenally large and unusually rich in food values. Cattle, sheep and hogs are produced at a good margin of profit on the high-grade land of the county, because the soil produces a much greater tonnage and a larger amount of protein, or fats, than elsewhere. Solano County, centrally located between the great cities of northern California — Sacramento and San Francisco — will become one of the greatest fat producing counties of the State, if not on the Pacific Coast, and this will be made possible, in the opinion of cattlemen, by stall-feeding alfalfa hay and rolled barley as a balanced ration. All farmers find hog raising profitable. This is especially so among dairymen, the hogs being fed skimmed milk and alfalfa. Conditions for poultry are perfect, as is evidenced by the record of one man in Dixon. His place covers less than a city block in extent, and yet his returns for the year were $1,500. MANUFACTURING SITES There are many excellent sites ofi'ered manufacturers throughout Solano County. Beginning at Vallejo, manufacturers will find a water-front owned by the municipality and highly desirable sites, on railroads and adjacent to deep-water docks, may be leased from the city. Benicia, on the main line of the Southern Pacific, also controls a fine water-frontage, afl'ording sites for docks for river and ocean vessels. Kio Vista, on the Sacramento River, may be reached at all times by ocean-going vessels. It has a large water-frontage. Suisun, on the main line of the Southern Pacific, also enjoys water transportation, recent dredging operations increasing the har- bor facilities. Ocean-going steamers of considerable tonnage navigate to Suisun. Each of these cities and towns has progressive civic organizations which are anxious to communicate with manufacturers seeking desir- able locations on the Pacific Coast. THE PRIZE-WINNING COUNTY Since winning the handsome $5,000 gold cup at the Mid-Winter Fair at San Francisco in 1894 for the best display of county products, Solano County has not lagged behind its competitors. At the California State Fair held at Sacramento in 1913 Solano County exhibitors won twenty-two prizes, a majority of them first prizes. Under the heading "Special Prizes for County Exhibits of Agricul- tural, Horticultural, Viticultural, IManufactured and Other Industrial Products" in Class A, Solano County won first prize, $600. I 61 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY RAISER FINDS CONDITIONS IDEA I . I )R SUCCESS COUNTY LIBRARY Solano County maintains a very active and successful Free Library, with branches established in different parts of the county. The efficiency of the library is very much increased, working as it does in conjunction with the State Library. STATE EXPERIMENTAL FARM The University of California Experimental Farm is located at Davis. The proximity of this institution offers the new settler an opportunity to get first-hand information from men experienced in every phase of farm production. Advice is fully and freely given. Solano County is also prepared to assist the new settler in many ways, in giving gratuitous advice as to proper farming methods, the right fruit to plant in a given locality, etc. The county employs a "farm adviser" to co-operate with and help all who desire his services. AN INVITATION TO YOU. Solano County, the prize winner of California, invites the world to come and witness the wonders worked here in field and in orchard. From one end of the county to the other the visitor will see evidence that has converted newcomers into enthusiasts and old resi- dents into firm loyalists. ]\Iany large landholdings are being cut up into smaller tracts, not that the owners had cause to regret their ownership, but Solano County has come to realize that its lands are exceptionally valuable because unusually rich, and by intensive cultivation may yield three times the value of crops obtained under the older and less scientific method of farming. Solano County is anxious to have homeseekers come, if only for a visit. The Solano County Chaml)er of Commerce will answer gladly any inquiry and will forward literature to persons interested. Address all communications SECRETARY SOLANO COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA 4 62 n I U 03 Southern Pacific CALIFORHIA LINES LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 017 168 779 2 SOLANO COUNTY. AS INDICATED BY THE REPRODUCTION OF A FEW OF HER WINNINGS HEREWITH, CONSISTENTLY CLAIMS SUPERIORITY OF PRODUCTS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 017 168 779 2 «